Whiffletree-hook



(N0 Model.)

F. EGGERS.

WHIPFLETREE HOOK.

Patented May 23, 1882.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND EGGERS, OF ROCK COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

.WHlFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 258,392, dated May 23, 1882,

Application filed October 5, 1881.

To all whom a may concern: I

Be it known that I, FERDINAND Eeenns, of the county of Rock, in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Hooks for Whiffletrees, 850.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to safety-hooks especially adapted for securing and locking the cockeye of a trace ortugwithiu the hook on the end of a whiftletree, all as will be more 1" ully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a whiffietree-hook embodying my invention, showing the cockeye of a trace locked therein. Fig. 2 is a like view, showing the cockeye in position to be removed or inserted. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the locking-block.

I have selected for representation of my invention a section of a whiffietree, A, having a thimble, B, at its end. This thimble has a hook, G, and perforated lugs b 1), preferably cast solid therewith. D represents a lockingblock provided with a recess, D, and a perforated lug, d, adapted to fit between the lugs b b on the thimble, and be pivoted thereto by a bolt running through the several perforations. At the end of the hook O is cast a lug, c, at a slight angle to the general direction of the hook.

The objection heretofore existing with ordinary whiffletree-hooks has been that when the horses backed suddenly with an abrupt turn, or when the trace was slack and they made a sudden or jerky start, the cockeye at the end of the trace was very liable to slip out of place, causing great inconvenience and not unfrequently considerble damage, or even serious accident. By my device this is rendered impossible. The recess D in the block D is just large enough to receive loosely a portion (No model.)

of the oockeye E when the said block is in the position shown by Fig.2, and then the cockeye, still vertical, is carried around until it has passed the lug 0 on the end of the hook, and then dropped into the position shown in Fig. 1, where it is securely locked against accidental displacement. If the traces become slack, the hook an d'cockeye both drop downward, their connecting portions forming the angle of a V, while the lug c effectually prevents their separation in this position, and together with the block D guards against any unhooking by a side strain or sudden movement either forward or back.

To remove the cockeye it is only necessary to turn the block again to the position shown in Fig. 2, with the cockeye raised to a vertical, so that it will pass over the lug o and lift it out, or permit it to fall outof itself.

I have described my invention as being especially applicable to whiffletrees; but it is obvious that it is capable of more general ap plication, and will be found particularly useful wherever a hooked connection in horizontal line is required, and I by no means confine myself to the specific application herein represented.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A whiffletree-thimble having hook O and lugs 11 b,in combination with a pivoted recessed block adapted to receive and lock the cockeye, as set forth.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of September, 1881.

FERDINAND EGGERS.

Witnesses:

STANLEY S. STOUT, HAROLD G. UNDERWOOD. 

